The Hardest High School State Football Quiz . . . EVER

November 29, 2002

Maybe you haven't heard of smaller programs such as South Beloit. Maybe you don't care too much about the difference between Mt. Carmel (Chicago) and Mt. Carmel (Mt. Carmel). But we've put together 11 trivia questions about many of these championship athletic programs that will make you look like an IHSA genius around your water cooler if, in fact, you hang around your water cooler. (And there will be no answering "c" if you're unsure. We know that trick too.)

1. Which state finalist program produced a Big Ten running back that would go on to play in three major college bowl games, including the Rose Bowl?

a) El Paso

b) South Beloit

c) Carthage

d) North Central Beloit. (Pssst, there is no North Central Beloit)

2. This state finalist school turned out a Big Ten QB who was the leading passer for his Chicago professional football team this season.

a) Bloomington

b) Providence

c) Pontiac

d) Another trick question. There is no pro football in Chicago.

3. The Chicago White Sox have a farmhand at Class A Winston-Salem who played baseball for this 2002 state finalist school.

a) Aledo

b) Trick question. And yes, we tucked it in here to throw you off.

c) DuQuoin

d) Driscoll

4. Which state finalist school produced a starting offensive lineman who has blocked for a real Heisman Trophy candidate on an 11-1 Big Ten team?

a) Providence

b) Edwardsville

c) Lockport

d) The Big Ten has Heisman candidates?

5. Which of these state finalist schools produced an MLB slugger who played for seven teams? And for bonus points, this same school produced a Southeastern Conference QB who completed all two of his pass attempts in the NFL.

a) Prospect in Mt. Prospect

b) Mt. Carmel in Chicago

c) Mt. Carmel in Illinois

d) Mt. Everest

6. This 1995 NFL Draft second-round pick of the New York Jets played at Class 8A finalist Stevenson before starring on the offensive line for Northwestern.

4. a) Providence. Senior Eric Steinbach, a senior Hawkeyes offensive guard and one of the top-rated lineman in the country, probably craves just one shot at Ohio State.

5. a) Prospect. Dave Kingman (right) played basketball and baseball for the Knights from 1963-1967. Bonus answer: Prospect grad Jeff Francis (above) played QB at Tennessee and recorded one game with the Cleveland Browns in 1990.